hoffman's partner steve cells. >> you're the bad guy. >> absolutely i am. i'm a wolf in sheep's clothing. >> reporter: they got city approval to sub divide the two acres to build two new big house. >> it was he in never a secret. >> you were going to tear down a frank lloyd wright house. >> that was the intention. >> that's what ignited the controversy. when the partners got a demolition permit outraged preservationists got busy. they got a petition to stop the demolition and got the city planning commission to designate it as a historic landmark. >> never in my wildest dream would i have thought that someone would want to tear down a frank lloyd wright home. >> do you think they are being greedy? >> yes, do i. i think they are in it only for the money. >> reporter: they say they are businessmen needing to turn a profit. they can't restore the gem which they say would cost $2 million and they can't afford to have it sit around as a historic museum piece. >> this is not a get rich. this is a get out, get compensated, and move on with my simple quiet life and